Travelling too quickly from one tourist attraction to the next may feel productive; however, usually it leaves travelers tired and disconnected. Therefore, slow travel has become popular amongst some travelers looking for a more connected, quieter, and meaningful experience while traveling.
Slow travel is about feeling the destination rather than about seeing the destination. Slow travelers tend to spend more time in the destination, pay attention to the details of their surroundings, and allow each experience to unfold rather than attempting to check things off a list of things to do.
Many of the best and most memorable travel experiences occur outside of the typical tourist attractions; for example, by having local conversations with merchants, exploring without a map, being invited to share a meal with members of the community, or discovering local cultural events (that may not be found in a travel guide) while traveling.
The concept of slow travel has its origins in the slow food movement which began in Italy in the late 1980’s as an alternative to fast food culture and the idea that all people should enjoy the tastes of local products and appreciate the craftsmanship associated with their use. Over time, this mentality has extended beyond just food and has begun to translate into the way people travel and I how they experience their travels.
As we began the early 2000’s the “see everything there is to see in three days” travel mentality was being questioned. Instead of bouncing from crowded tourist traps between destinations, slow travelers have begun looking for a more immersive cultural, historical, day to day and personal connection to their destination.
Slow travel’s unique features are the vast possibilities available to you when you slow down and travel with intention. A long-term stay or multiple weeks away are not necessary to experience slow travel — even a 5-day trip can be a rich, fulfilling experience, provided you approach it with a sense of presence rather than on a tight time schedule.
One major benefit of slow travel is its lower level of stress for an equal or greater sense of meaning. When you adopt a “less is more” approach and focus on a smaller number of destinations, you are able to engage more meaningfully with these locations and all the things you will discover in them — like little side streets, local cafés, unique neighborhoods, and the day-to-day activities of locals (as opposed to the typical tourist attractions).
If you want to travel as a local, shop at traditional markets, utilize public transportation, frequent local coffee shops, and learn a few of the cultural habits of the locals you meet. By doing just these four things, you will create a much truer and deeper travel experience.
The final major point of slow travel is avoiding an over-scheduled vacation. Working while traveling is not enjoyable! Slow travel prompts you to leave plenty of free time for resting, exploring, and experiencing serendipitous moments while you’re on vacation.
Another thing it does is teach you how to be present at the moment. Rather than thinking about the next stop on your trip, you concentrate on what’s happening at this moment. How food smells, the noises in the streets, the way older buildings feel, how other people go about their everyday lives.
And yes, having a camera and taking pictures can be fun, but slow travel teaches you that there’s more than one way to see the world than using your camera. Some memories will hold more significance when they are kept in your head rather than your phone.
And best of all, you can practise slow travel in any place, even if you reside in that location. It’s not about how far away you are but rather what mindset you have.
Going slow sometimes allows you to go deeper into what you’re doing. Typically, you recall the experiences you had the deepest for a more extended period.
